Railroad-rail joint.



PATENTED APR. 17, 1906.

G. A. WEBER.

RAILROAD RAIL JOINT.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 27; 1900.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

lNVENTOR George J?- l/aer ISTTON UNITED sTA as PATENT onrron. 5

GEORGE A. WEBER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 17, 1906.

Application filed November 27, 1900. Serial No. 37,895.

To all whmn if; nuty concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WEBER, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Rail Joints, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rail-joints, and its objects are to improve upon the construction of such appliances and secure a tight fit between the parts.

Another object of the invention is to obtain elasticity in the bearings between the rails, the sidebars, and the rail-chair.

Another object is to cause the base of the rail-chair to tightly hug the bases of the rails and prevent the joint from drawing awayfrom the base of the chair when the bolts are tightened up.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear; and to these ends the invention consists of a rail-joint for carrying out the above objects embodying the features of construction, arrangement of parts, and combinations of elements described and claimed in the accompanying specification, and shown in the drawings.

I will describe a railroadrail joint embodying my improvement, and then point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of two adjacent railsections and parts combined therewith to form a joint embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the joint, taken on the plane of the dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1, but on a larger scale and with the bolts only partly tightened. Fig. 8 is a similar section of the same parts with the bolts fully tightened. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing a slight modification of one of the parts. Fig. 5 is a similar section illustrating another modification. Fig. 6 is a similar section illustrating another modification. Fig. 7 is a similar section illustrating another modification.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A designate two adjacent railroad-rail sections arranged in line to form a portion of a track.

B designates an angle-chair having a base I), an upright 6 and an angle-brace b This rail-chair is long enough to receive the end snugly between the other flange comprised in the bases of the rail-sections and the opposite portion of the heads of the rail-sections and having at both its upper and loweredges outwardly-extending portions (1 d which although they may be made in theform of lugs will preferably be made in the form of flanges, converging outwardly or terminating outwardly in converging portions. This fish-plate or channel-b ar will ordinarily be of the same length as the fish-plate O. WVithin the fish-plate or channel-bar D is a block E, of packing material, preferably of wood.

Bolts F pass through the fish-plates O D, the webs of the rail-sections, the block of packing material E, and the upright of the chair B. The ends of these bolts may advantageously be outside the uprights of the chair. The fish-plate O, the fish-plate or channel-bar D, and the chair B will all preferably be made of steel.

In Fig. 4 the loweroutwardly-extending portions (1 of the fish-plate or channel-bar D are extended for a longer distance in contact with the adjacent flange comprised in the feet of the rail-sections.

It will be seen that in the examples of my invention shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the outwardly-extending portions d (Z of the fishplate or channel-bar D after extending directly outward turn abruptly and extend toward each other. In Fig. 5, however, they converge substantially throughout their extension toward each other, but still they may have such an angle of convergence as to be capable of a spring action.

It is advantageous to so construct the outwardly-extending portions (1 d or the edges of the outwardly-extending portions of the fish-plate or channel-bar D that they may have a spring action. This I have illustrated in connection with the first example of my invention, for in Fig. 2, where the bolts have not been fully tightened, it will be seen that the extremities of the outwardly-extending portions d d of the fish-plate or channel-bar D are at an angle to each other, whereas in Fig. 3, where the bolts are represented as having been tightened, the extremities of these outwardly-extending portions (.Z d of the fishplate or channel-bar D are parallel and inline.

The oint which I have described in its various forms may be used, because of the spring action afforded by the fish-plate or channelbar D, with or without packing material E, but when. packing material is to be dispensed with the outwardly-extending portions d (Z of said fish-plate or channel-bar D would probably be made thicker than as shown. Obviously with. outwardly-extending portions (1 (Z stiffened as compared with the proportions in which they are represented by the drawings, and. yet not stiff enough to be used without packing material E, less thickness of packing material will suffice.

In each of the forms represented the fishplate or channel-barD, in effect, constitutes a box which will be more effective in preserving alinem ent of the rail-sections than if only the lower outwardly-extending portions (Z or some similar structure were employed. The bearing of the fish-plate or channel-bar D is also much better through the two outwardlyextending portions d (1 than it would be with the lower alone or some similar structure. The condition throughout the fishplate or channel-bar D, or, in other words, at its upper as well as at its lower edge, being more uniform is productive of a joint in which the heads of therail-sections would be better supported and less liable to twisting strains. The coaction'of a spring-action fish-plate with a chair having its upright extending directly upward from its base forms a stronger and more effective joint.

Obviously the upright of the angle-chair may be constructed so as to have a spring action by being extended from the base at an acute angle, or, in other words, at an angle less than a right angle. This I have illustrated in Fig. 2. While I prefer to have it extend directly from the base at approximately a right angle, it may, so far as some of the features of my improvement are concerned, extend first at an acute angle and then upward from the base. This I have illustrated in Fig. 6. In this figure I have also illustrated shorter outwardly-extending portions (Z (Z for the channel-bar D, and conse uently a thinner packing material E.

n Fig. 7 I have shown a channel-bar D provided with outwardly-extending portions d (1 which do not converge. WVhile I do not regard this form as equally advantageous with the other forms i n all particulars, yet so far as some features of my improvement are concerned it may be used.

It will be observed that each of the illustrated examples of my improvement, except Fig. 7, has a projecting edge portion which may be termed a returning portion, because it returns back to the general direction or approximately the general, direction of the body of the fish-plate or channel-bar, and it is also to be observed that in every one of the illustrated examples of the improvement the edge portions (F d of the fish-plate or channel-bar do not cross the bolts F so as to require any drilling or cutting to adapt them for passage of the bolts.

I/Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A railjoint comprising the rail ends, means for maintaining said ends in alinement, and a rail-chair having a base, and an upright bent inward at an acute angle to the base, and thereby constituting a spring when the joint is tightened up.

2. A rail-joint comprising the rail ends, means for maintaining said ends in alinement, and a rail-chair having a base, and an upright constructed at such an angle to the base that when the joint is tightened up the upright is placed under an initial strain and forms a spring and when loosened recovers to sub stantially its normal position.

3. A rail-joint comprising the rail ends, means for maintaining said ends in alinement, and a rail-chair having a base, and an upright bent slightly inward from the vertical whereby the base of the chair hugs the base of the rails tightly when the joint is tightened up.

4. A rail-joint comprising the rail ends, side bars at each side of the rails, a rail-chair having a base and an upright forming an acute angle with the base and bolts for holding the parts of the oint together.

5. Arail-joint comprising the rail ends, a rail-chair having an upright constructed to constitute a spring, a fishplate at one side of the joint, a side bar constructed to form a spring and. arranged at the other side of the joint between the rails and the upright of the chair and bolts for holding the parts of the joint together.

6. A rail-joint comprising the rail ends, a rail chair having a base and an upright formed at an acute angle to the base, a fishplate at one side of the joint, a side bar at the other side of the joint having outwardlyextending portions at its upper and lower edges, and bolts for holding the joint to gether.

7. 111 a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate having a flange-like, laterally-extended base adapted to have an extended bearing upon the flange forming one side of ICC the base of the rail-sections, a second fishplate or channel-bar arranged upon the other side of the rail-sections, and bolts for securing the parts together, said second fish-plate or channel-bar having a longitudinal edge portion extending outwardly and in a direction transversely to the length of the bolts, and said longitudinal edge portion and the upright of the angle-chair being constructed to be at such a relative angle as to provide for a spring action between them.

8. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar arranged upon the other side of the rail-sections and having outwardly-extending portions at its upper and lower edges so constructed as to converge at their extremities, and bolts for securing the parts together.

9. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar arranged upon the other side of the rail-sections and having outwardly-extending portions at its upper and lower edges constructed wholly or partly at an angle to each other so as to be capable of a spring action, and bolts for securing the parts together.

10. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar arranged upon the other side of the rail-sections and having outwardly-extending portions at its upper and lower edges so constructed as to converge and have a spring action, and bolts for securing the parts together.

11. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar constructed to bear against the upright of the angle-chair at its upper and lower edges, the upright of the angle-chair and the upper and lower edges of the last-mentioned fish-plate or channel-bar being constructed to be at such a relative angle as to provide for a spring action between them, and bolts for securing the parts together.

12. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the railsections, a fish-plate or channel-bar constructed to bear against the upright of the angle-chair at its upper and lower edges and provided at said edges with spring portions, and bolts for securing the parts together. v

13. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar constructed to bear against the upright of the angle-chair at its upper and lower edges and provided at said edges with spring portions, a block of packing material intermediate the last-mentioned fish-plate or channel-bar and the upright of the angle-chair, and bolts for securing the parts together.

14. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair comprising a base and an upright extending for its entire height directly upward from the base, and united with the base at the point where it extends upwardly therefrom a fishplate at one side of the rail-sections, a fishplate or channel-bar constructed to bear against the upright of the angle-chair, and having a spring portion, and bolts for securing the parts together.

15. In a rail-joint, the combination of rail sections arranged in line, an angle-chair, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a fish-plate or channel-bar constructed to bear against the upright of the angle-chair at its upper and lower edges, and provided at said edges with spring portions, a block of packing material intermediate the last-mentioned fish-plate or channel-bar and the upright of the angle-chair, and an angle-brace intermediate the base and upright on the outside of the chair, and bolts for securing the parts to- I gether.

16. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair having a base and an upright, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections a second fish-plate or a channel-bar arranged at the other side of the rail-sections, and bolts passing through the upright of the angle-chair, said second fish-plate or channel-bar, the rail-sections and the said fish-plate for securing the parts together, the said second fishplate or channel bar having a short portion extending from one of its edges outwardly and also in a direction transverse to the length of the bolts, but not extending to the bolts, and having a bearing against the upright of the angle-chair.

17. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair having a base and an upright, a fish-plate having a base and arranged at one side of the railsections, a second fish-plate or a channel-bar arranged at the other side of the rail-sections, and bolts passing through the upright of the angle-chair, said second fish-plate or channel-bar, the rail-sections and the said fishplate for securing the parts together, the said second fish-plate or channel-bar having a short portion extending from one of its edges outwardly and also in a direction transverse to the length of the bolts, but not extending to the bolts, and having a bearing against the upright of the angle-chair.

18. In a rail-joint, the combination of railsections arranged in line, an angle-chair havin a base and an upright, a fish-plate at one side of the rail-sections, a second fish-plate or a channel-bar arranged at the other side of the rail-sections, and bolts passing through the upright of the angle-chair, said second fish-plate or channel-bar, the rail-sections and the said fish-plate for securing the parts together, the said second fish-plate or channel-bar having a short resilient portion extending from one of its edges outwardly and also in a direction transverse to the length of the bolts, but not extending to the bolts, and

having a bearing against the upright of the 10 angle-chair.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing itnesses.

GEORGE A. WEBER.

Witnesses:

GEO. E. ORUsE, CHARLES S. JoNEs. 

